My buddy Eleanor Stanier, who has died aged 81, helped to show the political color of the London borough of Richmond Upon Thames from true blue to apparently indelible orange. Within the late Nineteen Sixties the Lib Dems had no seat on the council, however from the 70s on, Eleanor was amongst those that campaigned and strove so laborious that Richmond is now with out a Tory councillor.
Eleanor was a hard-working native politician, who represented Mortlake and have become mayor of Richmond, 2001-02. As a councillor she made correct education for underprivileged youngsters a precedence. When the native postmaster was at loggerheads with the Submit Workplace and East Sheen’s native department was closed, Eleanor speedily acquired one other one opened.
She was an incredible group organiser – chairing the Mortlake with East Sheen Society the place she pushed to get an previous air-raid shelter reopened for public inspection. She labored with faculties – as a governor of East Sheen main and Christ’s Hospital in West Sussex. Culturally she was additionally energetic – as a trustee on the Orange Tree theatre and the Richmond Museum. For a few years she ran the Barnes Historical past Society.
The eldest of the three youngsters of Sylvia (nee Walsh) and David Worswick, Eleanor was introduced up in Oxford, the place her father was a fellow and tutor in economics at Magdalen School. It was a Labour family and her father’s chief curiosity in economics was in learn how to obtain full employment. Eleanor went to Oxford highschool and studied historical past at St Hilda’s School, and her first profession was as a historical past instructor. In 1965 she married Tom Stanier, a tv producer, and so they went on to have three sons.
Eleanor was astonishingly hospitable: her “easy suppers” have been a Sheen establishment. She made folks really feel snug on the desk – with a whole lot of assist from Tom. Only a fortnight earlier than she died of most cancers, she was providing espresso and tea to all-comers, full of life and sharp as ever, as guests poured in to go to Tom, lately incapacitated by a stroke.
Eleanor might be formidable however she had the warmest coronary heart and was an exquisite buddy. For instance, she inspired my spouse, Mona, who had simply been recognized with lung most cancers, to turn out to be a Lib Dem candidate for Richmond council.
I’ll always remember leaving Twickenham stadium and strolling out right into a recent Might daybreak with Mona and Eleanor. In opposition to all the chances an unknown, sick and inexperienced candidate had received the seat. It was a second to savour – of combined euphoria and disbelief.
Eleanor is survived by Tom, their sons, Alexander, Toby and Robert, and 10 grandchildren, Jessica, Benjamin, Gregory, George, Ella, Darcey, Posy, Tessa, Joseph and Zachary.
